Today was the fourth of july at Seneca lake. the celebrations began at breakfast when tusc came adorned In red white and blue. The morning started off with normal activates followed by second period where the girls had service prep. During this period, the girls worked on pieces for Friday's sabbath service. The theme is commitment and pieces included personal anecdotes as well as general thoughts on the subject itself. All pieces were sincere and heartfelt, insuring the success of this week's service. In the afternoon camp incorporated the american independence day with jewish history. All around camp different stations were set up representing different time periods in jewish history. Kids got to learn about the history of camp where they got the chance to ask alumni questions about what camp was like when they were campers themselves. Following the educational portion of the day, we all enjoyed a cook out including burgers, corn dogs, and watermelon for dessert. after campers finished their food they headed down to a carnival set up by the waterfront behind the fire circle. Each bunk had come to dinner dressed as a different american figure or icon. There were Madonnas babies marolyn. Monroes baseball players and mafia members all walked down infirmary hill together to begin the celebrations. Booths were set up across the entire grassy area behind the fire circle. Each booth offered campers a different experience. Some challenged the mind with games such as word searches, labeling a map of the united states, spelling bees and us trivia questions. Others appealed to humor such as the "make me laugh" booth where two very "serious campers" listened to every campers best jokes. If they cracked a smile the campers won. Other entertaining booths included getting "tatoos', playing frisbee, shooting out a candle with a water gun, popping baloons with darts and more relaxing activities such as coloring and board games. The face and nail painting station proved to be a big hit among not only the senecans and onondagans but many of the cayugan and Mohawk campers as well. One senecan nail artist said that she "painted about 20 peoples nails and all of them were guys". Everyone showed off their patriotism with red white and blue nails and stars drawn over their eyes. The night drew to a close when the youngest campers went back to their villages and the older campers stayed to watch a short movie and our very own "fireworks". The short film consisted of clips from multiple important events in american history. From our founding fathers to frederick Douglass to rosa parks, the video reminded us all what we were truly celebrating that day, freedom. finally after changing into some warm clothes and grabbing some flashlights Seneca and Mohawk headed down to the docks to watch the fireworks across the lake. When it got late everyone went back to their villages.
Ps: if you are wondering why I put the word fireworks in quotations it is because csl. Did not have our own fireworks, instead we watched a virtual version. this of course was due to the actual dangers of Using fireworks at camp. Instead of disappointment ari looked at the bright side of the situation and told us all that its "wasn't about the program itself but rather about how you (being campers) made the programs" Of course us staff members do our best to provide the "environment" for an amazing summer but it is up to each and every camper if they have the best summers of their lives. So far each and every camper has lived up to this philosophy by displaying an eager and excited attitude each and every day. I am so impressed with all of the girls in Seneca. In and everyone of them just want to have fun and their enthusiasm not only improves their summer but inspires us staff members to put forth a good attitude in order to reap the same benefits.
Claire Mirsky
S6 activity counselor
Seneca pr rep
July 6, 2011